To all Family Members:

We are happy to share we remain covid free at Dufferin Care Centre. I want to take a moment this week to thank every staff and family member takes a part in keeping us safe, but I especially want to thank our Director of Care who is leading our team with care protocols as set out by the Ministry Health.

We had 25 participants in our Alzheimer’s Society Zoom meeting on Tuesday March 16^th, the families found a lot of value in the discussion, feedback, and education that Susan provided. Thank you to all those that participated. We will be hosting these workshops again, with a different topic around dementia.

Annually at Dufferin Care Centre we celebrate Easter with a fun family Easter Egg Hunt. The residents, staff and their families and grandchildren participate in a large Easter Egg Hunt. This year will be different, but we still want to find a way to celebrate. We have decided to do an Easter Egg coloring contest this year! The residents of Dufferin Care Centre will be the judges. We will have 3 prizes total, and 3 age categories. Pick up your copy at reception or for staff by the sign-in desk, feel free to add a small photo of your child to attach to the picture, so residents can share and see photos of their young loved ones. I have also attached the PDF version you can print off and drop off at Dufferin Care Centre. Contest entries must be dropped off at Reception by noon on Thursday April 1^st. The winners will be picked on April 6th, and announced in the April 8th Covid 19 Update.

Just a reminder the family council meeting is tonight March 18^th at 6 pm. This week we will allow some time after the meeting for the families to mingle and connect on zoom. If you want to register for this event, please email mtoth@retirementconcepts.com.

Communication

We will continue to provide families and staff with a weekly email update. This is also posted under COVID updates on our Retirement Concepts website.

Visitor Policy Reminder

• We continue to follow Dr. Bonnie Henry’s direction of ONE designated visitor (we are not permitted to have alternative visitors per the Provincial Health Orders)
• We continue to schedule visits for families 7 days a week. To request Facetime, Window, or In-Person visit times/dates, email this address dcc-familyvisits@retirementconcepts.com or call 604-472-4151 for visitation. Please include your name, contact telephone number, and name of resident in your email. Allow 24-48 hours for reply.
• Please arrive 15 minutes before visitation appointment to complete pre-screening requirements
• AND PLEASE NOTE: Should the community have any type of outbreak, visits will cease immediately

Recreation:

The recreation team continue to provide activities to ensure residents can have fun, exercise and socialize with each other in our community. Arts and crafts, exercise, and manicures are just some of the programs that we are enjoying in smaller group activities.

Protocols

Aside from the single visitor policy, we are following the direction of our public health officials and have full infection prevention and control precautions in place. Staff continue to monitor residents closely and are ensuring the following protocols are being adhered to:

• Restricting ALL visitors from the premises/only those who have been deemed essential may enter the building at this time
• Ensuring no staff member is working in multiple facilities
• Staff are screened for their temperature upon entrance to the building, and midway through their shift. Also residents are screened for the temperature twice daily.
• Ensuring ongoing, environmental cleaning and increased frequency of high touch surface cleaning in order to break the chain of infection
• Staff and residents are committed to regular/proper hand hygiene to break the chain of infection, and wash their hands with soap and water and apply hand sanitizer frequently.

We will continue to act upon their latest advice, and will adapt our operations as necessary and recommended.

Deliveries

**Delivery hours are between 9 am-4 pm Monday-Saturday**

All deliveries will be received at the lobby entrance. All items will be sanitized and delivered directly to the residents’ suite.

1. Please use plastic bags, not reusable bags;
2. Please label all bags with the resident’s name, suite number, and date it was packaged;
3. If you are dropping off food for your loved one, according to Fraser Health’s directive the items must be non-perishable ONLY (must be consumed immediately, we cannot store any non-dried goods).
4. If possible, please sanitize the items before dropping off. We will re-sanitize as well to be safe.